Work-started feed mechanism for planers



Aug. 19, 1947.

A. A. KVALHEIM WORK-STARTED FEED MECHANISM FOR PLANERS Filed Oct. 9, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR.

HTTDAIVE K5, I

Aug. 19, 1947.

A. KVALHEIM WORK-STARTED FEED MECHANISM FOR PLANERS Filed 001;. 9, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1947- A. A. KVALHEIM 2,425,944

WORK-STARTED FEED MECHANISM FOR PLANERS Filed Oct. 9, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 19, 1947 WGRK-STARTED FEED MECHANISM FOR PLANERS Ananias A. Kvalheim, Petalnma, Calif.

Application October 9, 1944, Serial No. 557,857

1 Claim.

This invention relates to planers and while it has been designed primarily for use in connection with doors or the like after they have passed through saw-feeding apparatus such as disclosed in my Patent 2,241,142, dated May 6, 1941, it is to be understood that it can be used wherever it is desired to automatically plane material fed thereto.

An object of the invention is to provide a planer having feed rolls the operation of which is controlled by the work supplied thereto.

A further object is to provide a planer which can be quickly and easily adjusted to the size of the work so as to insure correct positioning of the work while being acted on by the planer.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a perspective View of the planer.

Figure 2 is a top planview thereof.

Figure 3 is an end elevation.

Figure 4 is a front elevation, the housing of the feed mechanism being shown in section.

Figure 5 is an enlarged top plan View of the feed-controlling switch, the same being shown in its normal position prior to actuation by work fed there-against, a portion of a door to be planed being indicated by broken lines.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fi 5 and showing relative positions of the parts after the switch has been actuated by the work, the motor of the feed rolls and its connections with the switch being indicated in diagram.

Figure '7 is an end elevation of the feed rolls and parts associated therewith.

Figure 8 is a section taken substantially on the line 88, Fig. 4., parts being broken away.

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the two adjusting shafts and the operating connections therebetween, parts being broken away.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates the main frame of the planer, the same being formed preferably of channelled members. It can be of any desired proportions and in the structure illustrated, is provided with supporting legs 2 having braces 3.

A stationary side strip 4 is secured on the frame and is parallel with a movable strip 5 carried by the frame. These two strips cooperate to form a track along which the work is to be moved, there being an upstanding guide flange 8 on the strip 5 and extended longitudinally thereof so as to constitute an abutment for one edge of the work resting on the strip 5.

Feed screws 1 are journalled in the sides of the frame and are parallel, each of the screws being provided with a sprocket 8 engaged by an endless chain 9. These sprockets and the chain are located adjacent to one side of the frame and one of the screws 7 has a crank arm Ill or the like whereby simultaneous actuation of the two screws can be eifected.

Both screws engage blocks ll depending from the movable strip 5 so that when the crank lll is actuated, the feed screws will operate to move the strip 5' toward or from the strip 4. However both strips will be maintained parallel under all conditions- Thus the structure can be adjusted to the width of the work to be acted upon.

Both strips 4' and 5 are cut away between their ends, as indicated at l2 to provide clearances for a lower feed roll [3 the shaft M of which is journalled in fixed bearings l5 mounted in side standards l6 secured to the frame I.

A movable feed roll I! is located above the roll l3 and is designed to cooperate therewith. This upper or movable feed roll has a shaft I8 journall'ed in bearings #9 which are adjustably supported in the standards 16 by screws 20' the downward movement of which in guides 2| is limited by nuts 22. Springs 23 are interposed between the stationary guides 2i and the bearings I9 and serve normally to press the roll ll toward the roll I3 so that any work positioned between these rolls will be gripped thereby. It is preferred to face both of the rolls I8 and I! with rubber so as to insure a tight gripping action upon the work between the rolls.

An electric motor 24 is mounted under and secured to the frame and has a pulley 25 from which motion is transmitted through an endless belt 25 to an intermediate pulley 21 joined to and rotating with a smaller intermediate pulley 28. This latter pulley in turn drives a belt 29 which engages a pulley 30 on a shaft 3|. Secured to and rotatable with pulley 30 is a gear 32 and a small pulley 33. This latter pulley transmits motion through a belt 3 3 to a pulley 35 on the shaft of roll [3.

Gear 32 meshes with a gear 36 having a pulley 37 rotatable therewith. This pulley transmits motion to a belt 38 to a larger pulley 39 secured to the shaft I8 of the upper roll 11.

Obviously when the motor 24 is operated, the Various belts, pulleys and gears already described, constitute a speed reduction transmission whereby the two rolls [3 and I! are driven in opposite directions simultaneously but at greatly reduced speed whereby work fed between them will be moved at a predetermined speed longitudinally along the rails formed by the strips 4 and 5. As has been shown, a suitable housing or shield 49 can be mounted on the frame I at one side thereof where it will house the transmission mechanism already described. This housing can be slotted, as at 4|, to permit up and down movement of the shaft 18.

Mounted on the strip 4 at desired intervals are posts 42 to which are secured leaf springs 43 obliquely disposed and extended in the general direction of the feed rolls. The spring 4'3 nearest these rolls is in contact with the button 44 of a switch 25 located in a circuit 46 which includes the motor 24. This circuit is normally open. Additional springs 43 can be located on the strip 4 at the opposite sides of the rolls and obviously all 01: these springs cooperate to press work laterally toward the guide flange 6.

Normally, however, the springs are inactive and switch 35 is open so that motor 2 5 is not operating.

Mounted on the strip 4 close to the feed rolls is a guard 41 and this guard embraces a spindle 58 which is journalled in the strip 9 and is adapted to carry a suitable planing tool. This spindle has a sprocket '29 receiving motion through a chain 50 from a sprocket 5! carried by an electric motor 52 and mounted on a hangar 53. Another hanger 54 is extended downwardly from the movable strip 5 and carries a motor 55 which serves to drive a sprocket 56 secured to a spindle 51 journalled within and extending upwardly through the strip 5. This spindle, which is located directly opposite the spindle 48, is adapted to carry a planer tool and is equipped with a suitable guard 58.

In practice, if it is desired to dress down or trim a door, for example, the strip 5 is adjusted toward or from the strip 4 until the springs 43 hold the door firmly against the guide flange 5. The two spindles 4'8 and 51 are then set in motion after which the door to be trimmed is fed onto the strips and 5 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. When the door approaches the feed rolls 1 and IS, the button 44 of the switch 45 is shifted by the spring 43 contacting therewith due to pressure of one corner of the door against the spring as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein a portion of a door has been shown at D. As soon as the switch is actuated, the motor 24 is started and the feed rolls are set in motion. Consequently the door, pressed against these rolls, will be fed solely along the flange 6 during which time the planer tools will dress down the adjacent edges of the door so as to bring said door to the desired width. As soon as the door has passed entirely from the switch controlling spring 43, the feeding operation is discontinued. The door can then be pulled from between the rolls and past the planer tools whereupon another door can be fed through the machine as before. Obviously one door can be used for pushing another door or, in other words, succeeding doors can be maintained in abutment one with the other so that a substantially continuous operation will be performed. Thus the trimming of doors on a large scale is expedited.

Obviously instead of trimming doors, window sashes, shutters, and other structures can be trimmed in the machine.

What is claimed is:

The combination with parallel relatively adjustable work-supporting strips, superposed work-feeding rolls extended across the strips, and separately driven motor actuated tools carried by the respective strips, and positioned to plane opposed edges of work supported on the strips, of a work guiding flange on one of the strips, springs on the other strip for engagement with one side edge of work on the strips, means for shifting the flanged strip to transmit thrust laterally through the work against the springs, a normal- 1y open electric circuit including a motor, means operated by transverse movement of the work against one of the springs for closing said circuit, and a driving connection between the motor and the feed rolls.

ANANIAS A. KVALHEIM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 245,481 Graupner Aug. 9, 1881 2,273,653 Melby Feb. 1'7, 1942 1,803,020 Kalgren Apr. 28, 1931 1,295,875 Eaglesfield Mar. 4, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 405,091 France Nov. 5, 1909 

